cephalopod

cephalopod

(sĕf′ə-lə-pŏd′)

n.

Any of various carnivorous marine mollusks of the class Cephalopoda, having a large head, a mouth with a chitinous beak surrounded by arms or tentacles, and in most species, an ink sac containing a dark fluid used for defense, and including the octopuses, squids, cuttlefishes, and nautiluses.

ceph·a·lo·pod′ adj.

cephalopod

any member of the class Cephalopoda containing molluscs such as squids (10 arms) and octopuses (8 arms). They have a well-developed brain, eyes very similar to vertebrate eyes (an example of CONVERGENCE), and are capable of rapidly changing colour through the possession of CHROMATOPHORES.

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